A cuneiform archive discovered within a residential block of the Ancient City of Ur has revealed a detailed livestock breeding ledger from the Neo-Sumerian period. The archive contains over 50 clay tablets that record the lineage, health, and wool production of state-managed sheep and goat herds across the Euphrates river delta.
These records provide a rare glimpse into the micro-management of the agrarian economy, detailing specific breeding cycles and the allocation of animal fodder during periods of drought. The ledger confirms that the Sumerian state utilized advanced statistical methods to project livestock yields and ensure the stability of the city's textile industry.